HMO licensing in New Forest

New Forest District Council operates the national mandatory scheme. We found no additional or selective licensing scheme in force or proposed as of September 2026. Councils can introduce one after a public consultation, so it is worth setting an alert.

The published fee for a new HMO licence is £976. Fees can depend on the number of occupants or lettings, and they are reviewed each year.

The council's Private housing page (article 999, https://www.newforest.gov.uk/article/999/Private-housing) states 'Currently the licence fee is £976' payable in two instalments: Instalment 1 £317.00 paid on submitting the HMO application, and Instalment 2 £659.00 paid after the consultation period on the Draft Licence and before the full licence is issued (payable by BACS or cheque). The two-stage structure follows a Portfolio Holder Decision of 19 March 2019 (democracy.newforest.gov.uk, 'New Houses in Multiple Occupation Licence Application Fee'), which set the fee at £976 with the same fee for all HMOs regardless of size (a flat fee, not scaling with occupants); that report gives the second instalment as £658 whereas the current web page says £659 - the web page figure is used. The £976 figure has apparently not been revised since 2019 (the website still quotes it in 2026); this is what the council publishes. No separate renewal fee, no accredited-landlord discount and no ancillary charges are published, so renewalGbp is null: the application form treats renewals as a form type (New/Renewal) but the council does not state whether the same £976 applies.

Check the current fee on the council website (newforest.gov.uk) before you apply.

National minimums for licensed HMOs are 6.51 m² for one adult and 10.22 m² for two adults; councils can apply higher local standards.

• The council publishes no New Forest-specific HMO fire-safety standard document. The licence application form (Part 9, Sept 2020 version) asks the applicant to confirm that a fire risk assessment of the property has been undertaken and that fire precautions equipment has been serviced and inspected by a competent person at regular intervals (with details of the person and frequency).
• The application form requires a current fire alarm system test certificate (BS 5839 as amended) and, where applicable, a current emergency lighting test certificate (BS 5266 as amended).
• The application sketch plan must show the number and location of smoke alarms, fire precaution equipment, fire escape routes and any fire safety information given to occupiers.
• The applicant must confirm all furniture complies with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988 (as amended).
• The council's Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy (2023) states only that a licensed property must possess 'adequate fire precautions' in relation to the number of proposed occupants; no prescriptive detector grade or fire-door specification was found on a New Forest official source (national fallback: Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 fire risk assessment duty).

• The council publishes no New Forest-specific amenity ratios (bathroom/WC/kitchen per occupant) on its website; contact the Private Sector Housing Team (023 8028 5151) for its current amenity guidance. Statutory fallback only (Schedule 3, Licensing and Management of HMOs and Other Houses (Miscellaneous Provisions) (England) Regulations 2006, as amended 2007): where units lack exclusive bathing/toilet facilities there must be an adequate number of bathrooms, toilets and wash-hand basins for the number of persons sharing, and where reasonably practicable a wash-hand basin in each unit; bathrooms and toilets must be of adequate size and layout, adequately heated and ventilated, with constant hot and cold water, and suitably located; each unit must have adequate space heating.
• The application form's Part 6 requires the applicant to state the total and shared numbers of bathrooms/shower rooms, WCs, wash-hand basins, kitchens and kitchen sinks, the number of lettings, occupiers and households, and each room's floor area (Part 7).
• The application form (Part 10) also asks how the property is heated and which rooms/common parts are unheated, and requires a displayed notice giving the manager's name and telephone number.

• Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) — Current report from a competent electrician (BS 7671 as amended).
• Portable Appliance Test (PAT) certificate — Current certificate, if applicable.
• Gas Safety Certificate — Current certificate(s) from a Gas Safe registered engineer dated within the last 12 months (if applicable).
• Fire alarm system test certificate — Current test certificate to BS 5839 as amended.
• Emergency lighting test certificate — Current test certificate to BS 5266 as amended, if applicable.
• Sketch plan of the property — Current sketch plan using the key in Appendix 1 of the council's application notes, showing every room on every floor, amenities, smoke alarms/fire equipment, escape routes, non-residential areas, hallways, stairs and lobbies.
• HMO licence fee - Part 1 — First instalment of £317 with the application; the application will not be processed without all listed documentation.
• Notice of application and declaration — Applicant must notify mortgagees, owners, tenants/leaseholders, proposed licence holder and manager in writing, sign the Part 12 declaration and disclose relevant convictions / previous refusals or revocations (Part 11). Other documents such as tenancy agreements may be requested.

• newforest.gov.uk
• newforest.gov.uk
• democracy.newforest.gov.uk
• newforest.gov.uk
• legislation.gov.uk

Compiled from the council’s own published pages and documents; data reviewed September 2026. Rules and fees change, so always confirm with New Forest District Council before applying. This is general information, not legal advice.